Entisaar looks odds-on to retain her unbeaten record
Mike de Kock’s Australian filly Entisaar is bound to be odds-on to score her second black type win. Favourites have a good recent record in this race, witness the succession of Franny (1/3), Arcetri Pink (12/10) and Majmu (1/4) in the last three years.
Entisaar was sup-ported from 33/10 to 12/10 on debut in the Ruffian Stakes, over 1000m at this track three weeks ago. She made light work of it, winning as she liked by a good length from Speedy Suzie. The third horse was five lengths in arrears. She meets Speedy Suzie again, and on level terms as both are one-time winners. Speedy Suzie looks to have little hope to turn the tables.
Also from the Entisaar race come Mella Maria (beaten 6 lengths), Scandal (12 lengths), Spring Wonder (15 lengths). Mella Maria had scored impressively on debut, and had been expected to finish at least in the placings in the Ruffian Stakes. Always handy, she was seen to be hanging, and folded tamely in the closing stages. That run was nothing like her debut win, and perhaps the soft going in the Ruffian Stakes did not suit her. She certainly deserves another chance to show what she’s made of. Her stable companion Spring Wonder is another who ran way below the form of her 1200m debut win in the Ruffian. She equally must be given another chance to show her first win wasn’t fluke.
Trainer Sean Tarry – saddles three in the race
Sean Tarry saddles Mambonick, who finished 2 lengths second to Speedy Suzie when both made their debut early in December. Mambonick followed up with a good win (as 5/10 favourite) later that month. She has the services of Strydom here, but hasn’t raced since her December win which must count as a disadvantage.
Tarry has two other runners here. Soul Of Spain made her debut in January, when finishing seven lengths behind Sapsan. The latter had been a 2-length runner-up to Mambonick at her previous start. Soul Of Spain should improve on that first effort, but seems unlikely to finish in front of Mambonick, even in receipt of 3kg. Tarry’s third runner Old Em is a Trippi filly who races for the first time. Khumalo takes the ride, and this sprint-bred filly could be anything.She carries 3kg less than her main opponents.
Then there’s Emperor’s Lass, a winner first time out ten days ago, over 1200m at the Vaal. The daughter of Antonius Pius ran on well from off the pace that day, but the victory must have been unexpe3cted as she started at 66/1. She steps up a league here, and will have to improve quite a bit to feature. That said, she could be anything.
Australian filly Bikini Girl opened 16/10 on debut, before drifting to 3/1. That race was over 1000m on the inner track here, some ten days ago. Bikini Girl finished second in what appeared to be a weak field, so she got a modest rating.
She’s bound to improve here, but only the race will tell by how much. Weichong Marwing has the ride, at 55kg.
In summary, Entisaar seems likely to start a short priced favourite and cannot be opposed. The fight for the places looks wide open, with a string of contenders, including unraced ones.
